Among recent responses to stories online, two comments stood out for their eloquence and indignation — one from a congressional candidate, the other from someone who lives all too close to the Gasparilla parade route and has a gift for coining new words (like "trespiss," an invaluable Gasparilla word if there ever was one). On our Political Whore blog, Wayne Garcia's post on the closing of Ybor's Big City Tavern led to a back-and-forth about what's wrong with Ybor; on Blurbex, Alex Pickett's interview with homeless activist Rev. Bruce Wright drew an equally heated debate. And Wade Tatangelo's Tampa Calling post on the 10 most annoying names in music inspired several additional nominations. Insane Clown Posse, anyone?

Re "Don't Sleep So Close to Me," by Alex Pickett, Jan. 30: Before the tent slashing even began, Mayor Rick Baker could have taken a national leadership role in how to manage a burgeoning problem of homelessness. … Instead, we've got 250 out of the more than 5,000 homeless living in a tent somewhere in midcounty. I am not discounting the efforts that went into the creation of these facilities. I am suggesting that it is a band-aid when Mayor Baker and the "leaders" in St. Petersburg should have had a tourniquet.

Ms. Samm Simpson

Re "Surviving Gasparilla," by Wade Tatangelo, Jan. 30: I made the mistake of reading [this] piece. I should have quit while I was ahead after the good read that Wayne Garcia invariably provides. Tatangelo's sophomoric screed seemed little more than another excuse to work "fuck," "pissing" and "assholes" into a column. Well done. Suggestion: Next time, try waiting until you're sober before turning in your Gasparilla copy. Unless, of course, you really do think the deification of litter and freelance pissing is some sort of proletarian picnic — or little more than an annual rite of pissage at the expense of unacceptably affluent South Tampa neighborhoods. "Fuck the floats"? How about fuck the juvenile-entitlement attitude? How about grow the fuck up? I live all too close to ground zero and make the best of it. I throw my own party on my own private property. And should you or your pal Sal and or any of the other Bud Light anarchists you hang out with decide to trespiss at Orleans and Bayshore, it would be my personal privilege to kick your collective asses down to your "spot" at Willow.

Jon

Re "Ybor City's violence, trashiness kills restaurant," by Wayne Garcia, thepoliticalwhore.com, Feb. 7: Making it easier for people to get down there and hang out … should be an overriding priority. Making people feel welcome and wanted — which in no way means just serving one class of people … Ybor's history is rich with differences in cultures, races and walks of life. It belongs to everyone. It would be a crying shame if its future was any different.

David Jenkins

In the end, Centro Ybor, despite its incredible history, was just like any other MALL — malls are inherently cannibalistic and thrive by putting someone else out of business. Only way to break the mall chain is to start designing places worth caring about, have a code that forces the creation of such places, have wise politicians and city leaders that push for this, and a citizenry that knows they are the ones that will make it all happen. What are we waiting for?

Bill Peak

As long as we keep trying to revert Ybor to the 20s and saving two-bedroom one-bath 700-square-foot rental houses and approving more and more rentals and duplexes, while chasing away projects and developers of residential, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, Ybor will still be seen by outsiders as a great place to party, piss and puke but never a place to call your home. … unless you have some big cajones! VIVA YBOR!

Jeff Pesce

Re Interview w/ homeless advocate Bruce Wright, by Alex Pickett, blurbex.com, Jan. 30: Bruce, aka "tent city terrorist"… The only thing we can blame militarism for is the rights it gave this a** monkey to be FREE. Thank God most of us don't abuse that right for our own notoriety. END the ENTITLEMENT. … while I am at it, that goes for long-term welfare, too!!!

Lynn

I have personally known Mr. Wright for over 20 years, and he is exactly what he says. There is no agenda at all except to truly help the homeless and downtrodden and those who are mentally ill and in dire need of support. … It amazes me why the city won't build and staff more shelters and have more services for the homeless in need, especially for children and mothers!

Dawn

From "Top 10 most annoying names in music," by Wade Tatangelo, tampacalling.com, Feb. 8: "1. Engelbert Humperdinck; 2. Limp Bizkit; 3. Kid Rock; 4. Phish; 5. Was (Not Was); 6. Blink-182; 7. Hootie & the Blowfish; 8. Portugal. The Man; 9. Hoobastank; 10. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah."

Insane Clown Posse — bad name and the worst "music."

Scott Z

Toad the Wet Sprocket. Like the music. Hate the name. Why do so many bands insist on names that make absolutely zero sense?

Franki

I love "Clap Your Hands …" But funny story, when I was talking about them to a friend once, he thought I kept calling them "Crap Your Pants and Say Yeah." That is by far the BEST band name ever.

Gabe

This article appears in Feb 13-19, 2008.